Mini duster

ABSTRACT

A mini duster is described that includes a handle, a neck and a cleaning head. The cleaning head includes a base plate that has a narrow front end and a broad back end. A pouch is positioned to at least partially enclose the plate. The pouch has a cleaning surface and opposed back surface, the back surface has a resilient edge that defines an opening. The cleaning head is removable and replaceable from the base plate and can be washed and reused for cleaning. The small size of the mini duster and length of the micro-fibers enable dusting in hard to reach places.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to dusting devices, and more particularly to hand held dusting devices.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cleaning and dusting devices, such as dusting brushes and sponge dusters in different arrangements and attachments, are commonly used for cleaning household as well as various commercial, and industrial environments. These devices can be advantageously used to clean items such as blinds, glass, television screen computer monitor screens, windows in vehicles and windshields.

Dusting devices typically include a handle and a cleaning head. The head includes dusting elements made of natural or man made materials such as for example sponges, cotton fabrics or polymers which remove dust and dirt from surfaces and then retain that dust and dirt in the cleaning head. Problems occur as the dusting elements of these devices get worn out and become less effective with time. In most cases the dusting element is limited in its ability to be cleaned or revitalized. For example, the bristles of a brush type duster can become increasingly brittle break and with time. The cleaning elements also lose their effectiveness because they gradually deform with use and do not return to their original shape.

The cleaning of dust and/or dirt from the cleaning head can also be a problem. The processes for the removal of dust from the cleaning element can include beating and washing in water. Beating spreads dust into the air that can get into eyes and be inhaled by any one nearby. Immersing the entire dusting device into hot water can loosen and degrade the cleaning element from the dusting device.

A dusting device is needed that has an effective and long lasting cleaning element that is removable, replaceable and separately washable.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mini duster is described that comprises a handle, a neck and a cleaning head. The handle is connected to the neck. The base plate is connected to a distal end portion of the neck. The cleaning head includes a base plate and a pouch. The base plate has a top face, a bottom face, a narrow front end and a broad back end. The pouch is positioned at least partially around the base plate. The pouch includes a cleaning surface that is adjacent to the bottom face and an opposed rear surface. The cleaning surface includes micro-fibers and the rear surface has a resilient edge that defines an aperture. The pouch is positionable on and removable from the base plate.

The mini duster is tapered between the narrow front end and the wide back end. The neck and the handle define an axis that is inclined with the base plate at an angle of 30°. The cleaning head is washable. The aperture of the pouch has a first position that has a first diameter and a second resiliently expanded position that accommodates the separating of the plate and pouch. The micro-fibers are approximately an inch to an inch and a half long.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a mini duster constructed in accordance with the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the duster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevation view of the duster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a left side elevation view of the duster of FIG. 1 without a pouch;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the duster of FIG. 1 without the pouch;

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the duster of FIG. 1 without the pouch;

FIG. 7 is a top view of the pouch of the duster of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the pouch of the duster of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 9 a-d are top perspective views of the duster of FIG. 1 that illustrate the steps for moving the pouch between the first position and the second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The micro-fiber mini-duster according to the present invention will be described herein below with reference to the drawings and initially to FIG. 1. The preferred embodiment of a mini duster 10 includes a handle 12, a neck 14 and a cleaning head 16. Mini duster 10 is a hand held duster that can dust larger surface areas as well as reach into and smaller spaces such as those of keyboards, furniture, blinds and video displays for computers and televisions.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the handle 12 has a distal end portion 18, a proximal end portion 20 and is preferably ergonomically tapered for ease of gripping. The cleaning head 16 has a flat base plate 22 that is at least partially enclosed by a pouch 24. The neck 14 has a wedge shaped distal end portion 26, a rounded proximal end portion 28 and is preferably made of plastic material.

Referring to FIGS. 4-6, the base plate 22 has a narrow front end 30 that tapers to wide or a broad back end 32. The narrow front end 30 can advantageously reach into narrow corners and nooks for dusting. Base plate 22 also includes a first or bottom face and an opposed second or top face. The base plate 22 is a flat plate that is preferably made of polymer.

The handle 12 and the neck 14 are preferably coaxial and define a common axis 34. In this preferred embodiment, axis 34 defines an angle of around 30° with the base plate 22. A loop 36 is provided at the top of the handle 12 to hold or hang the duster 10.

As shown in FIGS. 7-8 the pouch 24 includes a cleaning surface 38 that is adjacent first face of plate 22 and an opposed rear surface 40 that is adjacent to the second face of plate 22. The cleaning surface 38 preferably uses micro-fibers 42 for cleaning and/or dusting.

The rear surface 40 of pouch 24 has a biased edge that defines a resilient aperture 44 that has a first diameter or first position at rest that is expandable to a second position or second diameter that is larger than the first diameter. In the first position, the edge of aperture 44 is preferably in proximity to distal end portion 26 of neck 14. In the second position, the edge of aperture 44 has resiliently expanded such that base plate 22 is removable from or insertable through aperture 44.

The pouch 24 is made of strong durable material that is retained on the base plate 22. In this preferred embodiment, the micro-fibers 42 are densely arranged across the cleaning surface 38 of the pouch 24 to form an ideal dusting surface. Micro-fiber is a cleaning material in which each synthetic fiber is magnetically charged to attract negatively charged dust particles. Thus, dust, dirt and lint that cling to the micro fiber loops are retained by surface 38. The micro-fibers 42 preferably have a length of approximately 1-1.5 inches. This is sufficiently long such that the fibers extend into nooks and crannies to remove hard-to-reach dust.

Referring to FIGS. 9 a-9 d, the pouch 24 is separated from the base plate 22 in this preferred embodiment by expanding opening 44 of pouch 24 until it approximately equal to the dimension of back end 32. Arrows show the movement of the base plate 22 relative to the pouch 24 for the insertion of plate 22 into pouch 24 and the removal of plate from pouch 24.

The ability for the cleaning head or pouch 24 to be readily removed, washed and replaced advantageously allows the reuse of mini duster 10. The micro-fiber cleaning surface 38 in combination with base plate 22 preferably produce a uniform distribution of cleaning force. The micro-fibers are revitalized by washing and retain their original shape even after frequent use.

In this one preferred embodiment, the cleaning head 16 measures approximately 6.5 inches wide by approximately 8 inches long with approximately 1″ long looped micro-fibers. The micro-fiber mini duster 10 measures approximately 15.5″ overall. Thus micro-fiber mini duster 10 is compact in shape. The micro-fiber mini duster 10 is used with or without a cleaner applied to the cleaning surface.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-8, in operation, the size and shape of the micro-fiber mini duster 10 is advantageously employed for dusting blinds, computer keyboards, stereo equipments, furniture and other small or fine cleaning jobs.

Handle 12 is preferably made of rubber or another material that provides a good gripping surface. The length of handle 12 and neck 14 helps duster 10 to reach difficult places as well as to keep user's hand away from dirty surface while cleaning.

While cleaning, the cleaning head 16 is positioned on the cleaning surface such that the cleaning surface 38 comes in contact with surface to be cleaned. The cleaning head 16 is then moved in a desired direction to sweep and collect dust from the surface to be cleaned. The narrow front end 30 of the base plate 22 facilitates dusting in narrow places as well as the insertion of the base plate 22 into aperture 44 of pouch 24. The pouch 24 is made of any durable material that sustains forces induced during cleaning operation.

Although the present invention has been described in terms of the preferred embodiment above, numerous modifications and/or additions to the above described preferred embodiments would be readily apparent to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the scope of present invention extends to all such modifications and/or additions and that the scope of present invention is limited by the claims set forth below. 

1. A mini duster that comprises: a handle that is connected to a neck; a base plate connected to a distal end portion of the neck, the base plate has a top face, a bottom face, a narrow front end and a broad back end; and a pouch positioned at least partially around the base plate, the pouch includes a cleaning surface that is adjacent to the bottom face and an opposed rear surface, the cleaning surface includes micro-fibers and the rear surface has a resilient edge that defines an aperture; the pouch positionable on and removable from the base plate.
 2. The mini duster of claim 1 wherein the base plate is tapered between the narrow front end and the wide back end.
 3. The mini duster of claim 1 wherein the neck and the handle define an axis that is inclined with the base plate at an angle of 30°.
 4. The mini duster of claim 1 wherein the cleaning head is washable.
 5. The mini duster of claim 1 wherein the aperture of the pouch has a first position that has a first diameter and a second resiliently expanded position that accommodates the separating of the plate and pouch.
 6. The mini duster of claim 1 wherein the micro-fibers are between approximately one inch and one and a half inches long. 